Automatic electromechanical semaphore-signal.



No. "ioas;I Patented'Aug; l2, |902.- J. .McmLL. AUTOMATIC ELECTRUMECHANICAL SEMPHRE SIGNAL (Applicationled Aug. 19, 1901.)

6 Sheets-Sheet l.

- QNo ModeL) WwW-wiz.

fI f( No. 706,586. Patented Aug. 12,4902. .1. J. McGlLL.

AUTOMATIC ELECTROMECHANICAL SEMAPHURE SIGNAL.

(Appliemon med Aug. 19, 1901.)I (No Modem' 6 Sheets-Sheet Z `Paten'fed Aug. l2, |902.

J. J. MCGILL. AUTOMATIC ELECTHMECHANICAL SEMAPHORE SIGNAL.

(Application led Aug. 19, 1901.)V

6 Sheets-Sheet 3.

(No Model.)

QZK

gef

m mns 9g, wommo. WASHINGTON. D. C.

No. 706,586. Patented'Aug. I2, |902.

.1. J. McGILL. AUTOMATIC ELECTROMECHANICAL SEMAPHOBE SIGNAL.

Applicacion md Aug, 19, 1901.) (No Model.)

6 Sheets-Sheet 4.

No'. 706,586. Patented Aug. l2, |902.v

J. .1. Mc-GILL.

UTOMA'II'IC ELECTROMECHANICL SEMAPHRENSIGNAL.

(Application fild Aug. 19, 1901.)

n Patented Aug. l2, |902. J. J. mam.

AUTOMATIC .ELECTROMECHANICAL SEMAPHURE SIGNAL.

(No Model.)

'(Applicmon med Aug. 19, 1901.)

6 Sheets-Sheet B.

5o the opposite side.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN J. MCGILL, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR OF TWO-TIIIRDS TO EUGENE W. RICHEY AND SAMUEL AQJOHNSON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

AUTOMATIC ELEGTROMECHANICAL sEMAPHoRE-slc NAL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 706,586, dated August 12, 1902.

Application and August 19,1901. serial No. 72,549. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN J. MCGILL, of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Automatic Electromechanical Semaphore-Signals; and I hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to.

the accompanying drawings, which Vform part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in automatic electromechanical semaphore-signals.

The object of my invention is to provide a signal which is designed to be placed at suitable intervals along a railway-track, the said tracks being divided into blocks, each of the said blocks being protected by one of the signals. The elfect of the train moving into the preceding block produces a mechanical operation which sets the signal to danger, and at the time when the train is leaving the said block an electric circuit is closed, thereby setting the said signal for safety The signal is automatically set to danger by a mechanical means operated by the passing ofi the train over a part .of the track adjacent to which a mechanically-moving lever is placed; and itis set to safety bythe act of closing an electric circuit at a remote point or when the train leaves the block.

One of the objects of my invention is to vide a means whereby the signal is set to dan-` ger by a mechanical operation and is released from such a position or Yset to safety by means of an electric current acting through the proper circuit. and mechanism for this purpose, and leaving all electric circuits open when the semaphore is set to safety In the drawings, Figure l is a side elevation showing the case and supporting-tube in section and showing the semaphore-signal in position to indicate safety and all of the parts of the apparatus in corresponding position. Fig. 2 is a similar elevation of the device from Fig. 3 is a similar View showing the apparatus from thegfront. Fig.

` AL'is an elevation showing the apparatusfrom the rear. Fig. 5 is a plan view. Figa 6 shows the position-the parts occupy when the intermediate circuit is closed through the switchshifting magnet. Fig. 7 shows the position 1theparts occupy when the circuit is closed `through the motor or releasing magnet. Fig.

vwhich the semaphore is automatically set to the danger position. Fig.l0 is a plan View of the same. Fig. l1 is a diagram of circuits, showing the apparatus as applied to a thirdrail system. Fig. l2 is a diagram of circuits, showing the apparatus as applied to-a trolley system. Fig. 13 is a section through the motor-magnet armature and the armature extension. l

In all of the views the same numerals and letters indicate similar parts.

1 is the usual semaphore arm or blade, which indicates danger when in a horizontal position and which indicates safety when in the positions shown in Figs. l and 2. Itis pivoted in a tubular support 2 at the point 3 and is substantially counterbalanced by the weight 4. Asa matter of fact the weight 4 is some- `whatheavier than the arm or blade l and :when

free to move will `assume a vertical position and place the arm l in a. substantially horizontal position. The crank-pivot d, upon 'which the semaphore lis fixed and with which cal rod is provided with an insulating-break 8 and is fixed into the upperendy of anelectric solenoid-armature 9.

The armature 9 is provided with a brass or other diamagnetic downwardly-projecting extension lO, which carries a lug ll on its lower end.' When the lug 11 is not engaged bysomo vcorrespondingly depress the bladel.

The semaphoresignal and the tubular support 2 are held in place -upon the weatherproof casing 13.-

A base 14, preferably of insulating material, supports all of the apparatus within the case.

' The magnet 12 is shown supported thereon by means of legs and 16.

A laterally-moving lever 17 is supported upon arms 18 and19, which'are adapted to be oscillated and to impart to the lever 17alatemily-reciprocating parallel motion. The lever 17is provided with anotch 20, into which one end 2101:' a detent of the lever 22 is adapted to engage. The lever 22 is pivoted on the `support 23 and is held normally in the position shown in Fig. 2 by means of the weight 24. It is provided with an extended end 25, which is located immediately under the armature eXtension'lO and which is adapted to be displaced thereby when the armature descends, in which event the detent 2l ofthe said lever is lifted from the notch of the lever`17.l An arm 26, to move with the lever 17 in this instance, is provided by extending one of the links 18, and it carries on its laterally 'and upwardly extended end an insulating-piece 27.

A track-bar 28, which is adapted to have a vertical movement and to be depressed by the wheels of apassing car or locomotive, is a means by which the horizontal arm 17 is reciprocated upon the links 18 and 19. To the bar'28 a vertical link 29 is pivoted, which in turn is pivoted to a substantially horizontal lever 30. This lever is provided with a lati erally-extending crank-arm 3l, pivoted at the point 32 ina stationary bracket. A rod 33 is provided with an insulating-break 34 and is adapted to be connected with the lever 17 at the terminal 35. A weightf36 is adapted to be moved along the lever and is designed to hold the depression or track bar 28 in an upward vertical position above the tra ck-rail, as shown in Fig. 9. The weight 36 may be adjusted along the lever 30 for the purpose of 'regulating'the pressure or its effect upon the pressure-bar 28.

The shifting electric switch is comprised in the vertical rods 39 and 40, which are provided i "on their lower ends with carbons 41 and 42.

These carbons are adapted to make electrical contact with similar conducting stationary carbons 43 and 44. I have shown carbons in the drawings; but of course it is obvious that mercury in suitable cups or other circuit-closing means may be used instead of carbons for completing the electrical circuit.

The vvertically-reciprocatng rods 39 and 40 are supported in brackets 45 and 46, in which they have free vertical movement. Electric conducting-brushes 47 bear on these rods for the purpose of completing the electric circuit between the vertical supports and the said rods.

The rods 39 and 40 are slotted, and into these slots the horizontal ends of an oscillating lever 48 are passed. The lever 48 is oscillated upon a Vertical support 49, being pivoted at the point 50. The upper end of the lever 48 is connected to an oscillating armature-lever 51 by means of a rod 37, which is insulated at 38. The lever 51 carries an armature 52, which is responsive to the electromagnet 53 and is adapted to be moved in one direction thereby and in the opposite direction by an `open pressure-spring 54. A bell-crank arm 55 is provided with a notch 56 in its free horizontal end. It is pivoted to a vertical stationary support 57, the horizontal end thereof being held in its depressed position by means of the weight 58 and by the auxiliary spring 59. Either or both of these means may be employed for this purpose. When the armature 54 is drawn toward the magnet 53, the notch 56 of the lever 55 drops in behind the armature and holds it in that position against the action of the spring 54 after the current has been withdrawn from the magnet 53, as shown in Fig. 7. A horizontal lever 60 is fixed into the lever 17 and moves therewith and is adapted to depress the lower iend 6l of the lever 55, so as to raise the horizontal notched end 56 out of contact with the armature 52 when the lever 17 is oscillated by means of the pressure-bar weight 36. A spring 62, which is less powerful than the weight 36, is arranged to automatically move the lever 17 into the position shown in Fig. 8 andto cause the detent 11 to release the armature 9 yand the connected signal to go to 4danger in the event that the operatingbar 33, which connects the track-bar 28 and the lever 17, should accidentally become disengaged froxn said lever or bar or broken, in which event the track-bar would thereby become powerless to operate the signal. By the operation of the spring 62 the signal would go to danger in the event that the connecto be inserted in the circuit, so yas to reduce IOO IIO

T4 represents a trolley-wire from f y the electromotive force of the operative current when applied to the electrical parts of my device. The switches S and S', with automatic cut-outs, such as fuses, connect the wires 155 to the respective circuits. The magnet 12 is connected to the switch S by means of the Wires 1511 and to the lower contact 43 of the shifting switch by means of the wires 251. Insulated sections T2 and T3 are connected, by means of the insulated wires 158 and 159, to the respective rods 40 and 39. The switch S is connected to the switch-shifting electromagnet 53 by Wire -1510, and the magnet is connected to the shifting switch-point 44 by means of the wire 11.

Fig. 11 represents a diagrammaticview of the connections of my apparatus when ap plied to a third-rail railway system in which the current is taken from the third rail. T2 and T3 represent either an insulated section of the track or insulated pieces of metal that may be laid parallel with the track at proper locations. R is a suitable resistance for reducing the electromotive force or potential of the current applied to my apparatus. The insulated section T2is connected to the switch S by means of wire 112. Insulated section T3 is connected to the switch S by means of the wire 1513. The other connections are similar to those shown in diagram Fig. 12.

The use and operation of my device is as follows: Normally the semaphore and all of the parts of the apparatus are in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2, in which the semaphore indicates safety/J7 When a train approaches a block to be protected by my signal, the tread of the Wheel rides upon the depression-bar 28 and depresses it, thereby raising the lever 30 and the weight 36 into a more elevated position, and by means of the bell-crank arm 31 the rod is drawn toward the track, and the lever 17, to which the said rod is attached, is brought into the position shown in Fig. 8, when the detent 21 of the lever 22 will engage with the notch 2O and hold the arm 17 in this position after the train has passed over the pressure-lever 28. Vhen the-lever 17 is brought into this position, it is disengaged from the lug or detent 11 of the armature eX- tension 10 of the armature 9. Being thus released, the weight 4 of the semaphore will descend into practically a vertical positionwith reference to the support 2 and the `blade 1 will be raised thereby into a practically horizontal position, indicating danger. At this time the crank 5 will be raised into a correspondingly-upward position, so that when the magnet 12 is again energized and the armature 9 is drawn therein the crank-arm 5 Will restore the blade 1 to its normal safety position. After the train has passed the pressu re-bar 28 and the semaphore has assumed the position of danger, as described, the train has then entered the block guarded by the said semaphore. Normally the insulated extension 27 of thearm 26 rests against the vertical arm 48 of the operating-lever, and thcreby the brushes 41 and 42 are held separated from their respective contacts 43 and 44. When, however, the arm 26 is caused toassume the position shown in Fig. 8, (by reason of the pressure-bar 28 moving the lateral le- Ver 17into the position shown in Fig. 8,) the arm 26 is thereby withdrawn from its contact with the arm 48, and the spring 54 presses the armature-lever 51, and by this means the vertical arm 4S of the oscillating switch-lever into the position shown in Fig. 6, and thereby closes the circuit between the brush-contacts 42 and 44. This action closes the circuit, in cluding the magnet53, through the shifting switch. As soon as the insulated section T2 of the rail is grounded to the rail T by means of the wheels of the train connecting the two together this intermediate circuit will be thereby completely closed after the train `leaves the bar 28, and when it passes on to the insulated section T2 the circuit is completed from the ground through the wheels and axles of the train to the insulated section T2 through the wire 158 to the shifting switch, thence to `the contacts 42 and 44 through the vertical reciprocating rod 40 to the wire 2511, the magnet 53 over the Wires t10 and t5` through the resistance R to the trolley-wire T4. When the circuit is completed over this branch, the electromagnet 53 is energized and the armature 52 is attracted thereby. At this time the notch 56 of the lever 55 will engage with the rear surface of the armature 52 and hold the armature in this position or in the position shown in Fig. 7. By this action the oscillating arm 48 is moved to the lett, with the vertical rod 39 carrying the brush 4l, until the said brush makes contact with the brush 43,

which closes the circuit through the motormagnet 12, the contacts 42 and 44 being coincidently separated. The crank-arm 55, by virtue of the notch 56, holds the armature, and thereby the apparatus is retained in the position shown in Fig. 7 after the circuit containing electromagnet 53 has been broken by the train passing beyond the insulated section T2. The circuit is completed through `motor-magnet 12 at contacts 41 and 43. When the train reaches the insulated section T3, which is located at the end of the block, the circuit is closed between the said insulated section and the rail T, which is grounded through the wire t to the shifting switch, through the vertical rod 39, the carbon contacts 41 and 43, through the wire t7, the motor-magnet 12, through the wire 156, through the switch S and the Wire155, the resistance R to the trolley-wire T1, energizing the motormagnet 12, causing it to draw down its armature 9, and thereby to lift the counterwcight 4 by virtue of` the crank-arm 5 into the position of safety. (Shown in Fig. 1.) When the armature 9 is drawn down by the magnet in the manner described, the extension l0 of the said armature depresses the lever 22 by `coming in contact with the extension 25,when the detent 21 ot' the lever 22 will be raised IOO v from the notch 2O ofthe laterally-moving lev `ver 17. The lever 17 and the rod 33' being th us released, the weight 36 ofthe arm 30 will again thereto therebyope'ned. At this time the semaphore will indicate safety and all the circuits connected to my apparatus will be open. Coincidently the laterally extending rod 60, carried by the lever 17, will trip the crank-arm 61, and the armature-lever 51 will be thereby released, when the spring 54 will press the arm 48 over against the movable stop` 27, after which all of the parts i will occupy their normal position, as shown in Figs. 1 and'2.

Should the electrical apparatus fail to operate in the manner described, the semaphore will-continue to indicate dangen Diagram Fig. 1l is similar in its effect and functions to diagram Fig. 12, the only dierence being that the current will be directed to the insulated section T2 T3 from contactsI carried on the moving train, which are in electric connection with the third rail or any other source of electric energy with which the train has communication. Each train or engine may carry a special battery that is designed to operate all of the signals upon a given road, and the contacts may be carried by the train for imparting the electric current to the insulated surface connected with my device.

The object of the intermediate circuit in which the magnets 53 are located is to close the circuit for the motor-magnets. of this latter magnet is to return the semaphore to a position of safety and to release the mechanism that automatically engages the semaphore-moving means, so as to retain itin the position to which the said magnet has moved it, and thereby hold it in the position of safety. y

It will be noticed that all of the apparatus constituting Amy invention is contained within a weatherproof case, that all of the'operating" parts are thereby protected against extraneous influences, that the case 13 is accessible by means of the doors 13 and 13", and these doors are fitted with water-tight joints into their proper casings.

It is evident that a considerable latitude of variation may be made from the drawings which are used to illustrate my invention without departing from the true gist and scope thereof.

Having described my invention,- what I claim as new and useful, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-- The office voes sition, an electric switch-shifting magnet for controlling the electric circuits of said signal, a motor-magnet for moving and setting said signal to safety position when said magnet is energized, a circuit closed by the passing train for energizing the switch-shifting magnet, and a circuit subsequently closed by the said train for energizing said motor-magnet, substantially as set forth.

2. In Aa railway-track signal the combination, of a mechanically-operated connection between said signal and a railway track whereby said signal is released by the passing train and mechanically moved to danger position, an electric switch-shifting magnet, and an electric motor-magnet, a circuit for each magnet, a track-circuit closer foreach circuit, a switch for controlling both circuits and adapted to be shifted by the switch-shifting magnet, a means operated by the passing train for energizing the circuit containing the switch-shifting magnet to close the circuit at the switch containing the motor-magnet, and a means operated by the passing train for subsequently energizing said motor-magnet, whereby said signal is moved and set to safety position, substantially as set forth.

3. In a railway-track signal the combination, of a mechanical means, located at one end of a block for setting said signal to danger by the passing train, an electric motormagnet for returningsaid signal to safety, a circuit-closer operated by the passing train, located at the other end of the block, a circuit containing said motor-magnet and adapted to be closed by said circuit-closer, a switchshifting magnet, a, circuit containing said shifting-magnet, and a circuit-closer adapted to be operated by the passing train, located intermediate of the first-named circuit-closer and the said mechanical means, for setting the signal, and an electric switch for controlling both circuits operated by the switch-shifting magnet, substantially as set forth.

4. In a railway-track signal the combination, of a track pressure-bar, a semaphore, a motor-magnet adapted to move said semaphore to a position of safety, and to open its own circuit, when energized, a means for retaining the said semaphore in the position to which it is moved by said magnet, and a connection between said pressure-bar and said means adapted to release said semaphore when said pressure-bar is depressed bya passing train, substantially as set forth.

5. In a railway-track signal the combination, of a track pressure-bar, a semaphore adapted to automatically return to the danger position, a solenoid, an armature-core thereof connected to said semaphore and adapted to move it to the safety position, a detent carried by said armature, a lever adapt- IOO IIO

ed to engage said detent for retaining said semaphore in said position, a connection between said lever and said pressure-bar, whereby said lever is adapted to be disengaged from said detent, a latch for holding said lever and said detent separated, said latch adapted to be tripped by said armature when said solenoid is energized, and a means for bringing said lever and said detent again into engagement, substantially as set forth.

6. In a railway-track signal the combination, of an electric motor-magnet adapted to move a semaphore to safety position when energized, a retaining device for holding said semaphore in position to which it has been moved by said magnet, a semaphore adapted to automatically return to danger position when so released, a track-bar adapted to be i moved by a passing train, and a connection between said bar and said retaining device, for releasing said semaphore, substantially as set forth.

7. In a railway-track signal the combination, of an electric motor-magnet adapted to move a semaphore to safety position when energized, a retaining device for holding said semaphore in position, to which it has been moved by said magnet, a semaphore adapted to automatically return to danger position when so released, a track-baradapted to be moved by a passing train, a connection between said bar and said retaining device for releasing said semaphore, an electric circuit containing said motor-magnet, and a circuitcontroller adapted to be operated by a passing train located near the track at a remote point from the semaphore, substantially as set forth.

8. In a railway-track signal the combination, of a track pressure-bar adapted to release a semaphore, a semaphore adapted to automatically return to danger position when released, a circuit containing a switch-shifting lnagnet, adapted to be closed when said semaphore is released, an electric motor-magnet adapted to move said semaphore to safety position when energized, a means for energizing said switch-shifting magnet operated by the passing train, and a switch shifted by said switch-shifting magnet whereby its own `circuit is broken, and the circuit containing said motor-magnet is closed and a means operatedby the passing train for energizing said motor-magnet, substantially as set forth.

9. In a railway-track signal the combination, in a weatherproof case 13, a tubular support 2, a semaphore mounted upon a crank in the top of said support, an insulated bottom 14, mechanism for operating said semaphore in said case, and a connecting-rod between said semaphore-crank and said mechanism contained within said tubular support, substantially as set forth.

l0. In a railway-track signal the combination, of a semaphore, a means for moving said semaphore to safety position, a track-bar adapted to be moved by a passing train, a connection between said track-barand said semaphore for releasing said semaphore, and a means coacting with said bar to release said semaphore, and adapted to independently release said semaphore in the event of the connection between said bar and said semaphore becoming removed or otherwise inoperative, substantially as set forth.

1l. In a railway-track signal the combination, of a track pressure-bar, a semaphore adapted to return to danger position when released, a rod connecting said semaphore and said pressure-bar and adapted to release said semaphore when moved in one direction, and

to hold a retaining-lever in position when moved in the other direction, an electric n10- tor for moving said semaphore to safety position, a retaining device for holding said semaphorein the said position, and a spring adapted to 4displace said retaining device when said bar is removed, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I aftix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

' JOHN J. MCGILL. In presence ofm E. W. RIcHnY, M. F. ALLEN. 

